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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Guy Morriss (4th season, 11-23) 2005 record: 5-6 Big 12 finish: 2-6 (5th South) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 99th (109.9 ypg) Passing: 76th (208.0 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 74th (161.7 ypg) Passing: 57th (216.3 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 TCU Sept. 9 Northwestern State Sept. 16 #Washington State Sept. 23 Army Sept. 30 Kansas State Oct. 7 at Colorado Oct. 14 at Texas Oct. 21 Kansas Oct. 28 Texas A&M Nov. 4 at Texas Tech Nov. 11 at Oklahoma State Nov. 18 Oklahoma # Seattle Depth Chart: Offense 8 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 1 Trent Shelton Sr. 84 David Gettis Fr. WR 7 Dominique Zeigler Sr. 83 Mikail Baker So. IR 5 Terrance Parks Jr. 24 Carl Sims So. LT 67 Travis Farst Sr. 61 Matt Lott Sr. LG 70 Chad Smith Jr. 74 Thad Boatner Fr. C 76 Yancy Boatner Sr. 60 Sam Sledge Fr. RG 50 Will Blaylock Sr. 71 Dan Gay So. RT 72 Jason Smith So. 68 Nick Pace Jr. IR 9 Trey Payne So. 21 Queito Teasley So. QB 11 Shawn Bell Sr. 14 Blake Szymanski Fr. RB 20 Brandon Whitaker Jr. 17 Paul Mosley Sr. Depth Chart: Defense 4 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 90 Marcus Foreman Sr. 87 Jason Lamb Fr. DT 96 Klayton Shoals Sr. 91 Vincent Rhodes So. DT 99 M.T. Robinson Sr. 98 Quincy Jenkins Sr. DE 93 Julian Hill Sr. 57 Geoff Nelson Jr. MLB 44 Nick Moore Jr. 46 Joe Pawelek Fr. WLB 8 Antonio Jones Fr. 35 Ben Hixson So. CB 6 Anthony Arline Sr. 36 James Todd Sr. CB 3 C.J. Wilson Sr. 5 Braelon Davis Jr. OS 15 Maurice Linguist Sr. 4 Jeremy Williams Fr. ROV 9 Brandon Stiggers Jr. 11 Marlon Price So. FS 1 Dwain Crawford So. 21 Jordan Lake Fr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 43 Ryan Havens Sr. P 3 Brook Black So. KR 24 Carl Sims So. PR 24 Carl Sims So.

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For three years, Lee Hays was like a fly on the wall, soaking in everything he could about Texas Tech's "Air Raider" offense.

"I'd drive 100 miles every day," says Hays, a student of the offense when he was the coordinator at Division II West Texas A&M in Canyon. "I know those guys got tired of seeing me coming."

But the burning question is whether Hays can make it sing at Baylor like it has under Mike Leach at Tech.

"It's second nature for those guys (at Tech)," says Hays, who was hired as the Bears' offensive coordinator in December when head coach Guy Morriss decided to adopt the offense. "They're not even thinking. It's just boom, there it is."

Baylor's hopes for ending a 12-year bowl drought could hinge on the players' learning curve.

"I want to make sure our kids know where they're going. I don't want them thinking," Hays says. "Anytime you clutter the mind, you're a half step, two steps slower -- and we can't be. That takes away from the execution. If you hesitate or aren't right, it's too late. We'll be humming when those guys don't have to think as much."

After taking its most significant strides since joining the Big 12 Conference 10 years ago -- a 5-6 record overall, 2-6 in conference and first Big 12 road win -- Baylor's next step could be even tougher.

Especially with the growing pains of a new offense and key holes to fill defensively.

"When it's all said and done, I think we're going to be better defensively," Morriss says. "We've got to plug some holes, but those kids are growing up fast. And offensively, we've just got to execute. It all boils down to being patient, taking what they give us and be satisfied to move the sticks. The big plays will take care of themselves."

OFFENSE

Hays is trying to keep Baylor's new offense as simple as possible. Forget all the routes, numbers and formations; it comes down to throwing it "where they ain't."

"It makes it easy for a play-caller," says Hays. "I'm not sitting there trying to dance with the defensive coordinator. If they've taken away this, flip your hips, because this is open."

Quarterback Shawn Bell seems to have a good grasp of the offense. The fifth-year senior was 24-of-34 for 239 yards and three touchdowns in the spring game after throwing for 1,964 yards and 12 TDs last year. "There might be some guys with more physical tools," Hays says, "but Shawn's as accurate and smart as anybody out there."

Bell has plenty of targets to pick from in directing the new offense. Senior wide receiver Dominique Zeigler will likely draw his share of double-team coverage after catching 103 passes for 1,099 yards over the past two seasons.

Hays' biggest headache could be trying to find ways to get running backs Paul Mosley and Brandon Whitaker enough touches. Whitaker's more of a home-run threat with shake-and-bake moves, while Mosley is a punishing, straight-ahead runner with an eye on the end zone.

DEFENSE

Despite Morriss' assessment that the defense will be better "when it's all said and done," the Bears will have a tough time replacing seven key starters.

Guys such as rush end Montez Murphy and rover Willie Andrews don't grow on trees -- or come out of high school ready to play.

"We're hoping we can be just as good," says defensive coordinator Bill Bradley. "But you're not going to sell them all down the river. We've got to come around."

Marcus Foreman is a force at the other end, but there's no physical specimen like the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Murphy waiting in the wings.

At linebacker, the Bears are breaking in new starters for the second consecutive year. Junior Nick Moore and redshirt freshman Antonio Jones are next in line, but there's a severe shortage of experience at the inside slots.

The strongest position on the team is cornerback, especially if Braelon Davis comes back from academic probation. Seniors C.J. Wilson and Anthony Arline had a combined eight interceptions and eight pass breakups for a vastly improved secondary.

SPECIALISTS

Punter Daniel Sepulveda, the 2004 Ray Guy Award winner, averaged 46.2 yards in an "off year," but he is coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. The Bears hope to have him back by October. Sophomore Brook Black will handle the job in the interim. Kicker Ryan Havens (16 field goals and 22-of-24 extra points) is back, but Baylor lost special teams coach Mark Nelson to Tulsa.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The season hinges on the offensive learning curve and filling gaps on defense. If the line can protect Bell, he has more than enough weapons to attack any defense and put up more than the 18.9 points the Bears averaged last year (minus defense and kick returns) -- especially if exciting newcomers such as David Gettis and Ernest Smith can catch on in a hurry.

The Bears have made progress, and they figure to be a more exciting team this fall. Still, they will be hard-pressed to end their streak of 10-straight losing seasons. Life in the Big 12 South is just a bit too difficult.